Plastic umbrella frame construction



Sept. 25,- 1945. 5, .SLER 2,385,575

PLASTIC UMBRELLA FRAME CONSTRUCTION Fild May 22. 1944 Patented Sept. 19 45 UNITED STATES PATENT oFrlc-E rms'rrc mama mam:-

cous'raucrrou Sol Isler, New York, N Y. Application May 22, 1944, Serial No. 536,772 I 3 Claims.

a part of the following specification and throughout the several figures of which the same reference characters have been'used to denote identical parts:

Figure l is a vertical substantiallydiametrical section through an open umbrella, showing a frame embodying the principles of the invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showingdetails of construction;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the 1ine3-3ofFlgure1;* a

Figure 4 is a vertical section showing a modifled form of the invention. a

- Referring now in detail to the several figures.

and adverting first .to that form of the inventionshown in Figures 1, 2.and 3, it is apparent from Figure 1 that the general arrangement of the frame structure is that of the conventional umbrella frame, in that it has a series of radiatinz canopy ribs for spreading and tensioning the cover, hingedly connected to an upper ferrule" I fixed to the shaft, a seriesof corresponding wire which secures the canopy ribs and supporting ribs hingedly to the respective ferrules,

The canopy ribs, as shown, each comprises a plastic rod 8, which may be extruded or molded, and is preferably of uniform, cross-section throughout its length. Each canopy rib 8 is at: tached at its inner end to a preferably metallic connector 9, the same being hingedly connected to the ferrule 2. As shown in Figure 2, the connector 8 has a flattened perforated inner end Ill, through the perforation of which the hinge wire II passes, the opposite end of the connector comprising a threaded extension I2 of reduced diameter, which screws into a threaded socket at the inner end of the plastic rib'8. Preferably, but not necessarily, the screw connection between the rib and connector is supplemented by cement.

I ,rib. The connector I2 is preferably of metal;

The canopy ribs 8 are provided at an intermediate point in their length with a connector.

I2, which takes the place of the conventional clamp connector associated with the all metal comprises a tubular base portion I3, adapted to he slipped upon the rib 8, and to be cemented in place. The intermediate connector I2 has a perforated bifurcated lug I4.

The stretchers l5 are formed as plastic rods with, threaded socketed opposite ends I6 adapted to receive the end connectors-I1 and I8, which may be identical with the end connectors 9. The flat. ends of the connectors I1 and I8 lie respectively between'the bifurcations of the lug I4 and radiating stretchers hingedly connected to a sliding ferrule on the shaft and to the canopy ribs vat intermediate points. a

The present invention substitutes for the conventional all-metal ribs and stretchers. a com- 'posite structure in which the ribs and stretchers have the form of plastic rods'with attached metal ends forming hinge connectors with the respective ferrules, and with intermediate connectors carried by the canopy ribs. 4

The umbrella frame shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises a shaft I, having the upper fixed ferrule 2 and-th'e lower slidable ferrule 8. Said ferrules may be of known construction-identically.

expanded adjacent-their upper ends into the re-, spective collar; 4 and 5, one of which is shown in Figure 3, said collars being radially slotted, as shown at i in Figure 3, and each having a deep circumferential slot 1 opening in the periphery thereof and intersecting the slots 6 to receive the within the radial slots of the collar 5 of the ferrule 8. The wire I8 secures the connectors I8 to.

the lower ferrule, while the connectors are hingedly secured to the intermediate connectors I2 by suitable pivot pins 20.

Instead of the end connectors having threaded extensions extending into the socket ends of the plastic ribs, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, said end connectors may be ,in the form of sockets, as shown at 2| in Figure 4, receiving'the ends of the plastic ribs.

Since it is contemplated that the end connec tors, the intermediate-connectors I2.', and the.

ferrules shall be of metal, the ferrules and the associated connectors may be preassembled as units, before the plastic ribs are thereto attached,

and this is true also of the intermediate connectors and the associated end connectors of the pp rting ribs.

It is within the purview of the invention, when v suitable plastics are developed, to make the ferrules and connectors or any part of them, of plastic, instead of metal, if desired.

In that form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, in the interest of simplification o! the manufacture of the plastic ribs 8 and i 5, they are shown as being cylindrical in form, and without any differentiating integral plastic structure 1 throughout their extent. Consequently, the free v plastic or metal, or whether they shall freely engage the ends of the canopy ribs or be cemented or otherwise secured thereto.

In that form of the invention shown in Figure 4, the intermediate connector 23 is formed with a discontinuous bore, forming sockets 28 and 25 at its opposite ends, and the plastic canopy rib is in two sections, having, their adjacent ends inserted and secured in therespective sockets. The end connectors 2 I, ZGand 27, as shown, are provided with sockets receiving the adjacent ends of the respective ribs. i

For convenience in replacing a broken stretcher 28, the opposite ends of the stretcher may be formed, respectively, with a right and left thread, so that after removal of the broken stretcher a replacement stretcher can be readily screwed into position.

While inthe above description I have disclosed what I believe to be preferred and practical embodiment or the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the specific details of construction and arrangement of parts, as shown and described, are by way of illustration and not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Composite rib construction for umbrella frames comprising plastic rib sections and a connector consisting of a sleeve having sockets at its opposite ends receiving the adjacent ends of said rib sections, and '9. lug carried by said sleeve adapted to be pivotally interconnected with a stretcher.

2. Composite rib construction for umbrella frames comprising plastic rib sections, an intermediate connector consisting of a sleeve having sockets at its opposite ends receiving the adjacent ends of said rib sections and an end connector having a socket receivingthe other end of .one of said rib sections; said connectors each including a perforated lug adapted to be hingedly connected respectively with a stretcher and a fixed ferrule.

3. In an umbrella frame construction, a stretcher member adapted to be pivotally connected at its ends respectively to a sliding ferrule and to the intermediate connector of a canopy rim, said stretcher member comprising end connectors and an intermediate stretcher having right and left threaded connections with the respective end connectors. 1

SOL ISL-m. 

